Man and ape bid farewell. Just a few stones worn smooth, from childhood days. Flames dance in bronze and iron furnaces – when will we guess the answer? Nothing more than a few thousand cycles of cold and heat. In this world, genuine smiles are rare to find; on the battlefield, we draw our bows like crescent moons at each other. Blood flows across the wilderness.

One reading is complete, and my head turns white as snow. I only remember scattered traces, like dots marking ancient paths. Tales of the Five Emperors and Three Sovereigns, deceiving endless wanderers. How many romantic figures were there? After Dao Zhi and Zhuang Qiao’s fame lingered, Chen Wang rose wielding his golden battle-axe. Before the song could end, the eastern sky turned white.

— “Congratulating the New Year · Reading History” —

The rain in Chang’an showed no signs of stopping.

Yang Si had just returned from the military headquarters in the outskirts. Due to the rain, there were few pedestrians on the streets. He rode his horse swiftly down the empty main street, stopping before a wine shop he frequently visited.

Immediately, a quick-witted attendant from the wine shop came forward to tie up his horse. Yang Si, completely unconcerned about being soaked by the rain, walked straight into the establishment.

Due to the rain, there were few customers in the wine shop. At the counter on the first floor, Yan Xiaozhou, wearing a face veil, was speaking with the shopkeeper behind the counter.

She was softly explaining about a jar of wine she had placed on the counter: “This is genuine Lingxi wine. I aged it for three years. Why don’t you taste it first, Shopkeeper, and then decide if it’s worth the price?”

The shopkeeper smiled, “Is this truly Lingxi wine? Young miss, don’t deceive me. Many of my customers are officials and nobles. If they say it’s fake, my shop’s reputation would be ruined, and I’d have to hold you accountable.”

Yan Xiaozhou smiled, “That’s exactly what I wanted to address. You can come find me to settle accounts anytime. But about the price…”

So it turned out Yan Xiaozhou had come to sell wine at the shop.

In the end, Yan Sanlang and Yan Xiaozhou didn’t sell their house, as Mu Wanyao wouldn’t allow strangers to live across from her home. While Yan Sanlang was still worried about how to explain this to his second brother, Mu Wanyao had already left Chang’an with her future prince consort.

After discussing it, the siblings decided to send a message to their second brother and stay at his house, focusing on preparing for the examinations.

Even through the veil, the shopkeeper could vaguely make out the young lady’s beautiful and youthful appearance. Moreover, the young miss spoke so gently with such a pleasant voice, and there weren’t many customers upstairs. The shopkeeper was happy to negotiate the price with Yan Xiaozhou, exchanging words back and forth, and enjoying the conversation with the young lady.

Suddenly, a young man’s clear voice called from outside: “Shopkeeper, wine!”

Yang Si entered, walking toward them.

The shopkeeper hurriedly stopped his chat with Yan Xiaozhou, responding loudly. Seeing the shopkeeper’s urgency, Yan Xiaozhou guessed the incoming customer must be someone of importance. Taking advantage of the shopkeeper’s need to attend to the person behind her, she quickly settled on a price.

The shopkeeper, having no time to negotiate further, hastily agreed.

Yang Si leaned on the counter, lowering his eyes and speaking slowly: “Does the shop have any good wine?”

His lowered gaze fell upon the lady standing opposite him. A face veil covered her from head to toe. Behind the white gauze veil, the lady wore a vivid rouge-colored long dress. His expression remained unchanged, but in his mind, he tried to recall the voice of this young lady he had heard when entering just now.

Years of military life in Longyou had given him a habit quite different from his past self as Young Master Yang—he would pay attention to everyone he encountered, guarding against the possibility of border spies trying to extract information from him.

Yang Si felt this lady’s voice was familiar.

That light and tender voice, with the characteristic softness of southern speech. Her words seemed like singing, clear and gentle—not like someone from Chang’an.

His long fingers tapped the counter as he thought that he must have heard this voice somewhere before.

His lowered eyelids sensed the veiled lady staring at him. Yang Si’s tapping fingers stopped: Hmm?

Just then, the shopkeeper asked Yang Si with a smile: “We just received some Lingxi wine. Would the young master like to try it?”

Yang Si responded carelessly: “Mm.”

The young lady standing opposite him gave a light laugh.

Yang Si suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s, shooting straight at her. The veiled lady seemed startled by his cold aura and stepped back twice.

But Yan Xiaozhou only retreated two steps before regaining her composure. She curtsied and explained softly: “I was merely laughing at how well the shopkeeper conducts business, with absolutely no intention of offending the young master. You misunderstand.”

By now, Yan Xiaozhou had recognized this young master as the one she had rescued by the mountain stream before coming to Chang’an. However, seeing how guarded he was toward others, Yan Xiaozhou had no intention of trying to get familiar, so she simply offered a gentle explanation.

After the shopkeeper gave Yan Xiaozhou a string of copper coins, she curtsied again to the young master who was still staring intently at her, then turned to take her umbrella and left the wine shop.

In the wine shop, the keeper personally poured wine for Young Master Yang. Yang Si watched Yan Xiaozhou’s departing figure, his mind still dwelling on that familiar feeling. Suddenly, his brain felt electrified as he matched the young lady’s voice with one he had heard not long ago—

The sister from that pair of siblings who had sent him to the post station!

That singing-like southern accent matched perfectly with his memory!

This was his lifesaver!

Without thinking, not waiting for his wine, Yang Si turned and rushed out of the wine shop. The shopkeeper called after him unsuccessfully. Yang Si emerged into the rain-filled world, seeing nothing but vast sheets of rain with no trace of the lady from before.

The shop attendant had just returned from tying up the horse when he saw Young Master Yang come out, and quickly apologized with a smile: “Young master, don’t worry, the horse is secured…”

Yang Si: “Bring me the horse!”

Attendant: “Ah?”

Yang Si: “Never mind.”

Instead of waiting for the attendant to bring the horse, he plunged directly into the misty rain. Familiar with Chang’an, his gaze swept over the surrounding buildings section by section as he immediately gave chase in one direction. He darted through the alleys, sometimes running, sometimes scaling walls and leaping across trees, until finally, his vision cleared as he emerged from the winding alleys.

At the alley mouth, Yang Si caught his breath, wiping rain from his eyelashes. Through blurred vision, he saw a carriage stopped there, with Yan Xiaozhou being helped aboard by her brother.

Yang Si: “Hey—”

The carriage door closed, and the driver urged the horses forward. The closed-door separated two worlds.

Yang Si shouted after the carriage, regardless: “What’s your name!”

He called out to the carriage: “We’ll meet again—”

He held little hope, but as the carriage was about to disappear around a corner, the window opened, and Yan Xiaozhou looked back.

She sat in the carriage, clearly no longer wearing her veil. Yang Si’s vision was far better than others, and despite the dim light after the rain, he saw the young lady looking back at him with rouge lips, white teeth, and bright black eyes.

Like a bolt of lightning striking.

Yang Si saw her face clearly for the first time. Untouched by worldly dust, pure and crystalline; eyes slightly curved, lips holding a smile. She possessed a natural, pure sweetness, yet was incredibly clever as ice and snow. She didn’t speak, only gently waved through the window.

Yang Si’s eyes brightened: Had she recognized him?

Yang Si stepped back, leaning against the wall. After a while, he laughed to himself—

That night, Yang Si went to the Eastern Palace for dinner.

The Crown Prince saw his happy expression and couldn’t help asking: “What good news?”

Yang Si: “Remember the lady of my dreams I told you about last time? I met her today.”

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow: “Very beautiful, right?”

Yang Si smiled without speaking, but after a moment, he threw his head back in hearty laughter.

The Crown Prince couldn’t help but shake his head and smile: “What behavior.”

After a while, the Crown Prince murmured: “That’s good. You should have married long ago.”

It would be good if you could escape this mire.

The Crown Prince became very interested in Yang Si’s dream lady, asking detailed questions about her family background. Yang Si knew nothing to tell, yet was very interested in discussing it with the Crown Prince. The two talked at cross purposes for a long while until Yang Si’s scattered manner finally annoyed the Crown Prince, who stopped paying attention to him—

That year had a lot of rain.

While Chang’an was raining, the rain in Nanyang lasted a full half month.

Before the rain, the Nanyang County Magistrate and the Military Commissioner had been working together to eliminate the mountain bandits, engaging in a battle of wits for a long time. But once it started raining, the operation was delayed, making both sides anxious.

More troublesome was that when Yan Shang personally went to check the situation, the large pits they had dug along the mountain paths to trap the bandits hadn’t caught any bandits, but instead had trapped the carriages of some nobles passing through Nanyang.

Yan Shang was on the mountain at the time and immediately came to apologize, regardless of his eye injury. While the other party demanded an apology, they first needed to stay in Nanyang until the rain lessened before continuing their journey. For such a small matter, how could Yan Shang refuse? As County Magistrate, he immediately exercised his authority in front of the nobles to arrange lodging in the city for them.

They requested to stay in his mansion.

Yan Shang thought these nobles probably considered a county magistrate’s mansion the best accommodation available, hence their request to stay there. This was no problem, as long as they didn’t mind.

Thus, Mu Wanyao remained silent while directing Pei Qing to speak with Yan Shang, easily settling the upcoming accommodation arrangements.

So, at a side room in the County Magistrate’s mansion, Pei Qing knocked at the door, and after receiving permission, he entered. The maids who had been drying the princess’s hair in the room curtsied to him and withdrew.

Pei Qing looked at the lady sitting on the bed.

She had changed into different clothes, her soft silk dress spread beneath the bed. Her slender fingers propped up her jade-like cheeks as she gazed absent-mindedly at the rain outside the window.

Pei Qing spoke with slight annoyance: “Your Highness, why must we stay here?”

Mu Wanyao looked at him and spoke indifferently: “Didn’t you want to see what kind of person Yan Shang is? Didn’t you want to remove the thorn from my heart? Without close contact, how can I let go, and how can you be convinced?”

Pei Qing was startled, suspecting he was being too sensitive: “So Your Highness thought of so much during that brief moment on the mountain earlier.”

Mu Wanyao didn’t respond.

How could she have thought of so much?

When she saw Yan Shang approaching, half her body had frozen. By the time she came to her senses, he was standing five steps away, smiling and bowing to them, while she stared at the white gauze covering his eyes, wondering what had happened to them.

She had forced Pei Qing to converse with Yan Shang and insisted on staying here. She just wanted to know what had happened to Yan Shang’s eyes!

Mu Wanyao carelessly instructed Pei Qing: “I don’t want him to recognize me. He’s blind now and doesn’t know it’s me. Give orders that the attendants shouldn’t call me ‘Your Highness,’ use a different title. Also, there are several old servants around Yan Shang who would recognize me. Send someone to warn them—they’re not to tell Yan Shang my identity.”

She tilted her head and said flatly: “Tell them I’m just passing through and don’t want any connection with Yan Shang. If they dare let Yan Shang know who I am, I won’t spare their lives.”

Pei Qing’s expression grew even more gentle.

He looked at Mu Wanyao with tender eyes, delighted by her reaction. He repeatedly agreed, saying he would go give instructions to prevent the princess’s travel plans from being exposed.

After a while, Pei Qing hesitated: “I only met Second Young Master Yan today… Well, although he certainly has a good bearing, he’s just an ordinary person. He’s nothing more than a common county magistrate now. I really can’t see how he’s any different from others. I don’t understand why Your Highness liked him back then.”

Mu Wanyao’s lips curled in a strange smile as she said: “You’ll know soon enough.”

As Pei Qing was puzzling over this, a maidservant knocked on the door, saying respectfully: “Sir, Miss, are you both in the room? Our master asked this servant to come apologize to you both. He wishes to host a dinner tonight to make amends. Our master also said that since you’ve just arrived and Nanyang wasn’t prepared, he fears your accommodations might not be comfortable, so he’s specifically given up his quarters for you both. If the two distinguished guests have any special requirements, our master will arrange everything.”

Pei Qing intentionally made things difficult: “We two are fine, but our servants…”

The maidservant outside laughed: “Don’t worry, sir. Our master has already prepared clean clothes and ginger soup for them. Our master said that by rights, he should prepare the same for you both. However, given your noble background, you might not wish to use items prepared by others. Fearing your inconvenience, he’s specially invited a tailor to the mansion to make new clothes for you.”

Pei Qing was dumbfounded.

He looked at Mu Wanyao in astonishment, seeing her smile deepen as she continued gazing out the window at the rain, clearly well aware of what Yan Shang would do.

Mu Wanyao whispered to Pei Qing: “Ask her what happened to Yan Shang’s eyes.”

Yan Shang’s eyes shouldn’t be seriously injured.

The maidservant explained that when their master first came to Nanyang, his eyes were already not well, unable to handle strong light, seemingly from an old injury. After some time, the master’s eyes had improved. But recently during the bandit suppression, the master’s eyes were accidentally injured. So these past few days he’d been wearing gauze and applying medicine; they would heal soon.

Mu Wanyao stood up and told Pei Qing: “I’m going to check on Yan Shang’s eyes.”

Pei Qing: “…”

He didn’t stop her, comforting himself that the princess was only concerned about the other’s eyes. If he kept trying to stop her—whether successfully or not—Mu Wanyao might become even more preoccupied with worry.

Since Mu Wanyao couldn’t speak before Yan Shang herself, fearing he would recognize her, she brought a maid to act as her voice when going to find him. She left behind Xia Rong, whom Yan Shang would recognize, and brought Qiu Si, who had gradually come to prominence these past two years.

Because Xia Rong was to be married in these two years, more duties had been assigned to Qiu Si. Mu Wanyao had grown used to working with Qiu Si, and since Qiu Si was quite lively and cheerful, she had developed some rapport with this fifteen-year-old maid.

Qiu Si patted her chest, promising Mu Wanyao: “Miss, don’t worry, I definitely won’t let Second Young Master Yan recognize us.”

After returning to his mansion and washing up, Yan Shang sat in his room, deep in thought. Two servants stood beside him—one holding the changed bandages and other items, preparing to apply medicine to the master’s eyes. The other servant was Yun Shu, who stood there in a daze, looking extremely conflicted and troubled.

He had recognized the princess as soon as she entered their mansion.

But the princess’s guard captain Fang Tong had immediately sealed his mute acupoint, and Yun Shu couldn’t say a word at the time.

Afterward, the princess’s people had come to threaten him, forbidding him from revealing the princess’s identity… Yun Shu could only pray that the princess was truly just passing through Nanyang and wouldn’t stay long.

The princess had no idea how much Second Young Master couldn’t let her go, how heartbroken he was.

As Yun Shu wrestled with his thoughts, a clear, sweet maidservant’s voice came from outside: “Is the Prefecture Lord here? Our miss is concerned about your eyes and has come to check on them.”

Yan Shang came to his senses, rising with a smile: “This is too kind, making me feel quite ashamed…”

He suddenly fell silent as the door was pushed open with a “creak.” Yan Shang’s expression remained unchanged, but his heart skipped a beat, thinking this… future wife of Lord Pei seemed somewhat lacking in manners.

Mu Wanyao saw the two servants in the room. As Yun Shu stared at her with a shocked expression, she toyed with the hair by her ear and winked at him with a smile. Yun Shu’s expression became even stranger, and then Mu Wanyao turned to look at Yan Shang. Her gaze swept him from head to toe, noting his gaunt cheeks and prominent cheekbones beneath the gauze covering his face.

Even in his quarters, he was fully dressed, showing no signs of being flustered by their sudden arrival, though his clothes were different from when they were on the mountain.

His whole person appeared quite alert, yet gaunt.

Mu Wanyao stared at him for a moment, then noticed the bandages in the servant’s hands. She paused, giving Qiu Si a look. Qiu Si smiled brightly: “Oh my, is the master applying medicine to his eyes? As it happens, our miss’s family has someone who’s a master of medicine. Our miss can help bandage the master’s eyes.”

Yan Shang gently refused: “That won’t be necessary. How could I trouble the madam…”

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow: Madam?!

What was he implying?

Mu Wanyao felt provoked by him and walked toward Yan Shang. Yan Shang heard the footsteps and caught the faint fragrance from her body. He stepped back, and Yun Shu hurried to support his hand. With Yun Shu’s help, Yan Shang retreated.

Mu Wanyao followed his steps and grabbed his wrist.

Yan Shang brushed her hand away, his fingers careful not to touch her skin even through the sleeve.

He seemed to casually step back while Mu Wanyao deliberately pressed forward.

The fragrant breeze wafted faintly.

Yan Shang still spoke gently: “Madam is of noble birth, how could you trouble yourself with such minor matters? Moreover, my eyes are not seriously injured—it makes me feel quite guilty to have madam concerned. Madam’s cultivation is truly admirable; I imagine Lord Pei must be a person of similar character. Has Lord Pei not accompanied madam here?”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She signaled Qiu Si to speak and shut him up. After a while, Qiu Si found words: “Master, what do you mean? Our miss is only trying to apply medicine for you. You’re being far too cautious.”

Yan Shang smiled gently: “I meant no such thing, madam misunderstands. It’s just that I am already betrothed, and my fiancée is clever and lovely, innocent and pure. While there is certainly nothing improper between madam and myself, people talk, and I don’t want to give my dear one cause for unnecessary thoughts over such a small matter.”

Qiu Si was stunned, thinking: Oh no.

She turned to look at the princess, and sure enough, saw Mu Wanyao’s face turn cold. Yun Shu became rigid, sweat nearly dripping from his forehead. Yan Shang’s lips held a polite smile as he told Mu Wanyao how much he cared for his wife, and the more he spoke, the darker Mu Wanyao’s expression became.

She turned and left immediately.

Qiu Si hurried after her.

Hearing the footsteps fade away, Yan Shang sat down with a sigh of relief. Then he suddenly lowered his voice to Yun Shu: “Why were you so tense just now? What were you nervous about?”

With Yan Shang’s keen powers of observation, Yun Shu felt great pressure and struggled to control his stutter: “I… wasn’t nervous.”

Fortunately, Yan Shang seemed preoccupied with some difficult problem and didn’t pay much attention to Yun Shu’s attitude. Yan Shang frowned in confusion: “Her voice sounds so familiar. Where have I heard it before?”

He had heard Qiu Si’s voice long ago. But after three years, finding that voice in his memory was no easy task—

Yan Shang was lost in thought, reflecting on his moment of stupefaction earlier.

In his heart, Yan Shang thought about the fragrance of that lady…

When she came close, his heart had beaten wildly, and his mouth had gone dry.

But he thought the fragrances used by noble ladies were just a few common types.

Nothing special about it.

So why had his heartbeat become so irregular then, and his cheeks grown warm without control?

Yan Shang frowned in confusion, unable to understand his body’s reactions.

He felt somewhat troubled, confused, and dejected. His thoughts wandered chaotically—perhaps it was because he hadn’t been this close to a lady while talking for so long, that’s why his reaction was so strong?

Ah, Yan Shang, Yan Shang.

How could you be so vulgar—

Mu Wanyao was quite angry at Yan Shang’s repeated use of “madam” and his deliberate emphasis on his fiancée, which had greatly diminished her interest.

Seeing that although his eyes were bandaged, he was eloquent and in excellent condition, Mu Wanyao couldn’t be bothered with him anymore.

And no one was more relieved than Pei Qing about Mu Wanyao not actively seeking out Yan Shang. Pei Qing was delighted that his decision to detour through Nanyang had proven so correct—sure enough, after seeing Yan Shang a few more times, the princess would find him quite ordinary. He believed that after another couple of days, Mu Wanyao would completely lose her old feelings for Yan Shang.

However, staying in Nanyang and remaining in her room all the time was somewhat boring for Mu Wanyao. So Pei Qing inquired about some interesting historical sites in Nanyang, hoping to go sightseeing with her.

Mu Wanyao was also bored staying in the mansion, especially since Yan Shang left early and returned late—incomprehensibly active for a blind person who still worked diligently every day. So she let Pei Qing arrange their schedule and went out with him. Of course, Pei Qing didn’t just want to go out with the princess; he also wanted to further damage Mu Wanyao’s impression of Yan Shang.

So that afternoon, as Mu Wanyao and Pei Qing were sitting in their carriage returning to the mansion, the carriage stopped, and Mu Wanyao heard a commotion outside.

She asked uncertainly: “What’s happening?”

Pei Qing opened the carriage door first and said: “It seems Second Young Master Yan has been surrounded by people.”

Mu Wanyao looked outside.

She saw their carriage had stopped in front of the county magistrate’s mansion. Yan Shang had come out of the mansion, supported by Yun Shu as he walked with some difficulty. But as soon as he emerged, he was surrounded by commoners from all directions. Yun Shu was startled, and Han Shuxing, who was following behind Yan Shang, suddenly drew his sword.

Yan Shang commanded sternly: “Han Shuxing, put away your sword! Do not draw weapons against the common people!”

Han Shuxing reluctantly sheathed his sword but still tried his best to protect Yan Shang, preventing the visually impaired magistrate from being crowded by the people. Yan Shang’s voice was gentle as he urged everyone to calm down and explain what the matter was, but his clear, mild voice was drowned out by the voices of the people.

Han Shuxing raised his voice angrily: “Your county magistrate’s eyes were injured while fighting bandits, and you’re all making such a commotion. If you hurt him again, who will take care of your affairs!”

At these words, the chaotic crowd finally quieted down.

Hearing the voices from all sides finally settle, Yan Shang sighed and asked: “What exactly is the matter that brings you to surround the county magistrate’s mansion?”

The people pushed and shoved, selecting a representative: “Prefecture Lord, it has been raining for two months now. If it continues like this, what about this year’s harvest? Will Nanyang be flooded? My lord, have the officials done something wrong to anger Heaven or infuriate the Dragon King? Should we make offerings to the Dragon King?”

Yan Shang: “…What kind of offerings?”

The people responded excitedly: “We’ve selected a young boy and girl! If we offer them to the Dragon King, His Majesty will calm his anger and stop flooding us with rain!”

Such ignorant people.

Over in the carriage, Pei Qing’s face showed an expression of disbelief. He looked at Mu Wanyao, who was merely lifting the curtain to watch Yan Shang being surrounded by the ignorant masses. Her eyes were dark as night, and she remained silent.

Yan Shang spoke gently: “You all misunderstand. This is not how one makes offerings to the Dragon King. Please listen to me—Nanyang has not angered Heaven. Heaven labors day and night, and even if it were to favor mortals, it would focus on Chang’an. Why would it notice such a small place as ours? The Dragon King must have merely dozed off. No matter, we shall pray to His Majesty for clear skies…”

From where Pei Qing stood, he heard Yan Shang speaking of prayers and moving heaven and earth… Pei Qing said: “Has Yan Shang gone mad? A learned man shouldn’t speak of supernatural forces. Has he forgotten everything he’s studied? How can he deceive the common people like this?”

Mu Wanyao spoke softly: “Because ordinary people neither understand nor believe in your grand principles. Clear skies mean Heaven is happy, and rain means Heaven is angry. Good harvests are Heaven’s favor, poor harvests are Heaven’s punishment. Reading books is glimpsing Heaven’s will, not reading is Heaven’s grace.

“These are the thoughts of common people.

“If you tell them now that wind and rain are ordinary occurrences, nothing to panic about, they’ll think you’re some kind of demon who doesn’t consider things from their perspective.

“That’s why… Yan Shang must educate them gradually.”

Pei Qing looked at Mu Wanyao with a strange expression. He had never imagined a princess could have such understanding. He said: “Your Highness cares so much about the people’s welfare…”

Mu Wanyao: “I don’t care.”

She paused, lowering her eyes: “Yan Shang told me this.”

Pei Qing: “…Your Highness hasn’t been in contact with him for three years.”

Mu Wanyao: “Before he left, he gave me a memorial. Besides suggesting how I should keep a low profile, it also spoke of his observations while traveling through Jiangnan as a child.”

The rain pattered heavily, thunderous in sound.

Pei Qing felt a moment of bitterness, and after a while managed to say: “…But it was for such common people that he betrayed Your Highness. I would never do that.”

Mu Wanyao didn’t respond. Her eyes watched as the people crowded around Yan Shang, heading in one direction. She instructed the driver: “Follow them and see.”

Pei Qing immediately felt distressed—he had intended to let Mu Wanyao see Yan Shang make a fool of himself, but now she was actively choosing to follow and watch—

It turned out Yan Shang had agreed to pray for clear skies for Nanyang.

The continuous rain in Nanyang had fallen from the second month straight through to the fourth month. Surrounded by the people, Yan Shang ordered the closure of all market gates. He arranged for an earthen platform to be built at Nanyang’s central location, with an altar and yellow banners placed on top, where people would pray for clear skies.

Mu Wanyao’s carriage stopped at the entrance of a teahouse. She saw more and more people gathering from all directions, kneeling below the platform, muttering prayers for the rain to stop. The officials were on high alert, patrolling among them, most worried that someone might take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble.

Conflicts arose between the people and officials. The officials wanted the people to disperse or simply go home, while the people argued about what would happen if the rain didn’t stop, accusing the officials of harming them.

Amid the arguing, they suddenly looked up to see Yan Shang being helped onto the platform.

Rain poured from all directions. Yan Shang’s white robes were like snow, soaked by the rain, the gauze over his eyes fluttering, making him appear even more pale and ethereal. He stood on the high platform, sat down, and clasped his hands toward the people below.

Yan Shang said: “I will personally pray for clear skies here. I ask all fellow villagers not to quarrel, lest we disturb Heaven’s will.”

The people gazed up dumbly at their county magistrate sitting beneath the banners, his face clear and handsome, so young. He just sat there, watching the shamans pray, watching them dance in their masks. Wind and rain assailed him from all directions, flying onto his already soaked robes.

He looked even thinner, even more pure like moonlight.

He just sat there quietly, not saying a word.

Gradually, the turmoil below subsided. The people were willing to follow the officials’ arrangements and disperse, no longer gathering together. They quietly watched the shamans pray for clear skies below, no longer talking carelessly or walking about.

From dawn to dusk, three full hours.

Whenever they grew anxious, they would look up at their Prefecture Lord still sitting quietly on the platform, and their hearts would calm again—

For three full hours, besides the shamans’ prayers and the sound of rain, no human voices could be heard.

Sitting in the carriage, Pei Qing watched entranced, while Mu Wanyao watched intently.

Sitting in the carriage looking up at him in the rain, she suddenly remembered how he had looked reciting “The Great Rat” in that rain in Lingnan; she thought of their argument about the people’s welfare in the Ministry of Justice prison years ago… Now she watched him sitting there in the downpour, accompanying these common people, helping these common people.

He was so wonderful.

He was like a white crane, like jade and pearl, a person who seemed to emit light. He made people unconsciously look up to him, and follow him.

Mu Wanyao’s gaze never wavered as she instructed the maid outside: “Go find some clean men’s clothes.”

Pei Qing guessed what she wanted to do, but his heart was so bitter and ashamed that he couldn’t speak a word to stop her—

By coincidence, at dusk, the rain stopped.

The people didn’t think it was coincidence, but believed their Prefecture Lord had moved Heaven, and cheered endlessly.

When Yan Shang was helped down from the platform by Yun Shu, he was completely soaked and cold. His face was pale and his hands were trembling slightly. Suddenly, he heard Yun Shu’s voice, both frustrated and surprised: “…Miss!”

Yan Shang raised his face.

Mu Wanyao, sheltered by maids with umbrellas, approached with a gray rabbit fur coat draped over her arm.

The next moment, the fur coat was placed over the exhausted Yan Shang’s shoulders.

The soft body of the woman came close as she rose on tiptoes to drape the garment over him. She said nothing, but her breath brushed his neck, leaving Yan Shang dazed. Her fingers pressed against the back of his neck, gesturing for him to lower his head as she tied the collar strings.

Yan Shang was stunned, again catching that familiar scent from her. He suddenly realized what had been draped over him and was shocked, feeling it highly inappropriate. Yan Shang stepped back, but Mu Wanyao was still on tiptoes tying his clothes. His retreat caused her to cry out in surprise as she stumbled.

Yan Shang’s heart pounded heavily.

Then he heard the people rushing over: “Prefecture Lord! Prefecture Lord, thank you…”

Yan Shang reached out to catch the stumbling woman, preventing her from falling. He also feared the people would thoughtlessly rush forward in their enthusiasm and bump into her delicate form. As a result, he caught her as she fell, holding her in his arms.

Her face pressed against his neck.

In that instant, his cheeks burned like fire, and his pressed lips curved in a slight, unnatural arc. He held her, protecting her from being bumped by others.

His arms around her, he tried to hide his racing heart, but his fingers resting on her back felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and he couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

…Could it be her?—

Pei Qing’s voice followed: “…Miss.”

Yan Shang held Mu Wanyao’s arm and pushed her away.

Mu Wanyao looked up at him once and saw his expression was normal, and she had already properly draped the fur coat on him. Mu Wanyao said nothing and was led away by Pei Qing. Pei Qing looked back at the young man with white gauze over his eyes. Pei Qing had so many things he wanted to say, yet couldn’t utter a single word.

…With someone like this, what could he say?—

Footsteps scattered in confusion. Yan Shang stood bewildered, unable to distinguish who had come and who had gone.

After standing empty-hearted for a while, Yan Shang softly asked one of the villagers who had gathered to thank him: “That lady who just left, her eyes… were they somewhat round, but upturned at the corners, like… a cat’s?”

The villager nodded: “Yes, yes! Such captivating eyes. Ah, that miss was so beautiful…”

Yan Shang stood frozen in place.

His face flushed crimson, yet his heart shattered. He felt both joy and sorrow—

He knew who she was now.